North Carolina

Governor Pat McCrory

A native of Guilford County, North Carolina, Governor McCrory earned degrees in education and political science from Catawba College. After graduation he launched his career with Duke Energy, rising to the position of senior adviser with the firm's business and economic development group. He began his political service in 1989 with election to Charlotte's city council and was re-elected twice, serving as mayor pro tem from 1993 until 1995. In 1995 McCrory was elected mayor of Charlotte, a position in which he served a record seven terms, through 2009. A nationally recognized leader in economic, transportation, and homeland security issues, McCrory received a presidential appointment to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, serving from 2002 until 2006. He founded the Mayor's Mentoring Alliance in 1995, which has grown to include 40 youth-serving and mentoring organizations. McCrory retired from Duke Energy in 2007, and, prior to his election as North Carolina's governor in November 2012, was senior director of strategic initiatives for a Charlotte-based law firm.